Happy Monday, everyone! More spooky reads for the #allthebookreviews duo!
Thanks to Tor Nighfire for the gifted copies in exchange for our honest reviews.
LITTLE EVE – Catriona Ward (Released October 11th, 2022)
Book Description:
From Catriona Ward, author of The Last House on Needless Street, comes the Shirley Jackson Award-winning novel Little Eve, a heart-pounding tale of faith and family, with a devastating twist
“A great day is upon us. He is coming. The world will be washed away.”
On the wind-battered isle of Altnaharra, off the wildest coast of Scotland, a clan prepares to bring about the end of the world and its imminent rebirth.
The Adder is coming and one of their number will inherit its powers. They all want the honor, but young Eve is willing to do anything for the distinction.
A reckoning beyond Eve’s imagination begins when Chief Inspector Black arrives to investigate a brutal murder and their sacred ceremony goes terribly wrong.
And soon all the secrets of Altnaharra will be uncovered.
Chandra’s Thoughts: 4/5 stars
OK, so I jumped the gun a little when I read the author’s note at the beginning of this book and saw that LITTLE EVE is the follow-up to her debut, The Girl From Rawblood…I immediately stopped what I was doing and downloaded Rawblood thinking of Little Eve as a sequel. Yeah, no. My fault! But I’m not mad about reading more from Ward.
Little Eve is deliciously gothic and dark. Cultish, folklore feel that plays games with your mind and your heart. A very intimate look into Eve’s family and their leader, the Adder. Snakes, the Wane and so much honey. Nature vs. nurture and a lesson in pure faith. Come hither everyone but come prepared.
Ward continues to astound me and I legitimately want to pick her brain and spend a day or five inside her head. Her writing is so captivating and it is especially haunting in this isolating tale. There were times when I was a bit confused as to what was going on. Who the, when the, what the…. my head was spinning but I was invested fully in this family.
Highly recommend reading Ward if you’re a horror fan… or if you just love the wicked weirdness of it all.
My Thoughts: 4/5 stars
When Catriona Ward releases a book it’s an absolute must-have for this reader. I loved both THE LAST HOUSE ON NEEDLESS STREET and SUNDIAL, and when I read the synopsis for LITTLE EVE and saw there might be cults involved, I was so ready to crack this one open. One thing that draws me to her books is that they’re all creepy and dark in their own ways and it’s never the same kind of scare, if that makes sense. She brings us something new and ominous every time.
I’ll always be drawn to anything, fiction or nonfiction, if it has to do with cults in any way. Ward gives us such an incredibly atmospheric book that just swallows you whole – it’s like you’re right there with Eve on that small isle near Scotland. If you love the gothic vibes to your books, then this is one you’ll want on that TBR. We had a mix of characters that Ward introduces us to and some are ones you want to cheer on, while others are just downright nasty.
Ward once again delivers a book that will suck you in from the very beginning and you won’t want to put it down until that last page. Dark, gothic, atmospheric, character driven, and some truly gruesome moments all made for another unique and consuming read. Highly recommend this and all of her other books! Now the wait for the next one to release begins.
Jessicamap Reviews 